Electric switch



Feb. 18, 1941. J. w GENAfQ] 2,232,024

ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed Nov. 6, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet l I I 4 S 49 70' I H I z ln venior A tiomeys J. W. GENARI ELECTRIC SWITCH Feb. 18, 1941.

Filed Nov. 6, 1939 2 SheeEs-Sheet 2 In veniol 271/. ge/m/v' A itorneys Patented Feb. 18, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

The present invention relates to electric switches of the type generally employed for lighting circuits and has for its primary object to provide a pivoted switch arm adapted for moving into and out of engagement with a pair of contacts to bridge the same for closing the circuit.

A further object is to provide a switch structure of this character which is silent in action, which is efiicient and reliable in construction, relatively inexpensive to manufacture and otherwise well adapted for the purposes for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which Figure 1 is a front elevational view.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view through the switch housing.

Figure 3 is a similar view taken at right angles to Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on a line 44 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a view in elevation of the switch arm per se shown removed from the housing, and

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the pivot pin and switch arm.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein for the purpose of illustration I have disclosed a preferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral 5 designates a switch housing of insulation material having an attaching plate 6 over its front side and forming a cover for the housing, the upper and lower edges of the plate having extensions 1 for attaching to the wall in which the switch is to be mounted.

The attaching plate 6 is formed with a vertically extending slotted opening 8, at each side of which is formed oppositely off-set portions 9 forming a bearing for the ends "lot a pivot pin designated generally at H. As more clearly illustrated in Figure 6 of the drawings the ends of the pin are rounded and at its intermediate portion the pin is provided with squared sections I2 which are embedded in a handle l3 projecting outwardly from the plate 6. The pivot pin is thus anchored in the handle for actuation thereby. Also projecting laterally from an intermediate portion of the pin II is an elongated flat metal arm ll which is twisted intermediate its ends to provide flatwise engagement with a movable contact designated generally at I6,

' when moved into engagement therewith. Also it which is in the form of a pair of fiat metallic arcuate fingers secured crosswise of the free end of the arm by rivets or the like |9. The contact I6 is insulated from the arm l4 and the rivets 19 by means of insulation washers 20, and a retaining plate I8 is provided to prevent pulling of the heads of the rivets through the insulation.

The fingers ll forming the movable contact are of spring metal and have their extremities spaced apart to form clips adapted for engagement with the upstanding contacts 2| which are embedded in the bottom of the housing 5. The contacts 2| project outwardly from the housing and are provided with terminal screws 22.

The inner surfaces of the clips formed on the ends of the fingers H are formed with knobs 23 adapted for increasing the frictional engagement of thefingers with the upstanding contacts 2| will be noted that the upper ends of the contacts are curved to conform to the arc of the fingers ll.

In the operation of the device it will be apparent that upon the movement of the handle I 3 upwardly that the inner end of the arm I! will be moved downwardly, which carries the movable contact for engaging the upstanding contacts 2| which are adapted to enter between the spaced fingers l1 whereby to bridge the contacts 2| and close the circuit connected therewith.

It is believed the details of construction and advantages of the invention will be readily understood from the foregoing without further detailed explanation. 35

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is:

An electric switch comprising a housing, a cover plate for one side of the housing, a switch arm pivoted in the cover plate and including a flat strip having a pin projecting laterally from opposite sides of the strip adjacent one end JOSEPH W. GE'NARI. 

